Art · Museums · Observations · Paris

We recently discussed the installation of new ventilation vents in the floors of Versailles, which can be viewed in different ways, both from the standpoint of improved comfort and a favourable microclimate, and from conservative considerations of preserv

We recently discussed the installation of new vents in the floors of Versailles for the ventilation system, which can be viewed in different ways, both from the standpoint of improved comfort and a favourable microclimate, and from conservative considerations of the immutability of the palace's appearance. Well, the

Monarchies · Observations · Society · Humour

Battle of Karansebes, where the Austrian army defeated itself after a drunken brawl

The Battle of Caransebeș will go down in history as one of the most absurd engagements ever fought: the Austrian army managed to defeat itself. My thanks to Twitter's algorithmic feed for this staggering story. One is deeply sorry for the men who perished in this tragedy, yet

NB! · Aristocracy · Monarchies · Observations · Humour

Remember: if you see me in the guise of Leopold I, in full ceremonial dress and a gigantic headdress of white plumes with a peacock atop, it means I am returning with good news

Remember: if you see me in the guise of Leopold I, in full ceremonial dress and a gigantic headdress of white plumes with a peacock atop, it means I am returning with good news. If I appear as Prince Gundaker of Liechtenstein, with a sail of black feathers upon my

Aristocracy · Cinema · Books · Observations · Mores

The Tale of Babar the Elephant in the de Brunhoff Family and Lucien Vogel's Edition

I owe my first impression of consanguineous marriage among aristocrats to the tale of Babar the elephant, which I read in early childhood. If you remember the opening of the plot, once he has become a famous elephant, Babar goes off into the forest with his cousins Arthur and Celeste,

Museums · Observations · Society

The author considers equal admission prices to cultural sites fair, except for privileged categories

It seems to me only fair that access to cultural sites should cost the same for everyone. Apart from special concessionary categories, naturally

Museums · Observations · Society · Saint Petersburg

From today the Hermitage raises the price of its combined ticket, for the time being only for foreigners: it will now cost 800 roubles

From today the Hermitage raises the price of its combined ticket, for the time being only for foreigners: it will now cost 800 roubles. I do not know how you feel about it, but I, having held a foreign passport for many years, am somewhat vexed. To put it mildly,

NB! · Archive · Cinema · Observations · Pop Culture

The 33-year-old Chaplin and Anna Pavlova

The 33-year-old Chaplin and Anna Pavlova. How handsome they are! And how well Charlie looks without make-up and moustache

Art · Museums · Observations · Humour

Experts doubt that the Getty head is a Gauguin self-portrait

This sculpture was once considered a self-portrait of Gauguin, but a growing number of experts now agree that the head was in fact made by an unknown Polynesian puppet-maker in 1894. In principle, the Getty has money to burn, so it is not all that vexing that in

Observations · Palaeontology · Nature · Humour

Dogs Poppy and Sam find a 190-million-year-old ichthyosaur skeleton on a Somerset beach

The pups Poppy and Sam have found an almost complete skeleton of an ichthyosaur, 190 million years old, on a beach in Somerset. Palaeontologists are now trying to establish whether the remains belong to a new species of extinct marine creature. In short, walk your doggies more often https://www.

Art · Observations · Mores · Pop Culture

Pink hair powder for hair and wigs in fashion in the late 18th century

Like other finest discoveries of mankind, pink hair came into fashion in the glorious eighteenth century. Towards the close of the eighteenth century, many dandies perfected their coiffures and full-bottomed wigs with the help of plain pink powder. Now and again I come across miniature portraits of that era

Cinema · Moscow · Observations · Mores

Raizman’s 1984 film “Time of Desires” about the daily life of Muscovites in the late USSR

For those weary of the January marathon of old films, I recommend a 1984 picture about metropolitan life in the late USSR, "A Time of Desires" with Vera Alentova and Anatoly Papanov. Admirers of "Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears" may find this melodrama of some

Cinema · Observations · Pop Culture

Hanging of the Decembrists to a Basta song in the finale of “Union of Salvation”

“When I am gone, I shall sing with the voices of my children and the voices of their children”: I could not believe my ears when this melody struck up in the final scene of “Union of Salvation”. On screen, the hanging of Pestel, Ryleyev, Muravyov-Apostol, Bestuzhev-Ryumin and